MICE IN BOLOGNA: GET INSPIRED

Bologna offers all ingredients for a successful event! We've just returned from a 4-days incentive tour between Bologna, Parma and Modena and would like to share with you the tour itinerary.

On the first day, after a welcome lunch at cosy Caffé Marinetti of Grand Hotel Majestic, guests enjoyed an orientation tourfocusing on Bologna charming back streets, the colorful alleys of the food market, its amazing towers, medieval buildings and walkways, basilicas and its ancient university.

An intimate welcome dinner was served at Enoteca Morandi, the historical and prestigious XV century wine cellar of the hotel where guests savoured traditional local dishes and local wines in a relaxing atmosphere.

On the second day, we offered a visit to the brand new Eataly FICO, the world largest agri-food park. After a guided tour led by an Ambassador of the Biodiversity, guests chosed they preferred course between pasta, pizza, cheese, coffee, pastry, and more! The perfect conclusion of the morning was a lovely brunch served in the park lemon garden. In the afternoon, we reached Modena for a pleasant evening stroll to admire the UNESCO heritage monuments, such as the Romanesque cathedral and the Ghirlandina tower. Passed the Ducal Palace and the Theatre, to present our respect to Luciano Pavarotti brand new bronze statue, we crossed the food market and reached the kithchen of a starred chef. Here guests attended a cooking-show dinner run by Chef Luca Marchini who introduced them not only to his cusine, but also to the ingredients of his success: balance, delicacy, energy, emotion and taste. The Chef prepared a 4-course dinner sharing his passion and his wise art with his audience who were really in ectasy!

The following day a short drive took the group the elegant and charming Parma. The visit included the Palazzo della Pilotta to admire the Farnese Theatre and the rich Palatine Library, which preserves over 700.000 volumes, the Cathedral, the Baptistery and finally the temple of the lyrics, the Royal Theatre for a private and exclusive visit. During the tour, we tickled the appetite of our guests with a gorumet tasting at a well-known deli-store where they tasted gnocco fritto with Prosciutto di Parma, Parmesan cheese and Malvasia wine. Salute! After lunch at a local trattoria, we reached Fidenza to enjoy some free time for shopping at the out-let shopping mall. Guests were welcomed in the VIP lounge for a cofee and a brief introduction. Everyone received a discount shopping card along with a passport to take advantage of the Hands-free Shopping option.

The day concluded with a fantastic dinner at the restaurant of Chef Terry Giacomello. The tasting menu was the perfect choice to discover the creative molecular cuisine of the starred chef, characterized by the combination between flavours from the land and the sea in a perfect harmony and elegant presentation.

On the last day we couldn't miss to visit the Enzo Ferrari Museum in Modena which proudly showcases the history of the legendary and world-renowned marque. The current exhibition, Driving with the stars, includes the first Ferrari ever displayed at a motor show, the 166 MM, as well as models that have belonged to royal families. Not forgetting, of course, the exclusive LaFerrari Aperta, the Prancing Horse icon par excellence!

After the tour, we reached a farmhouse to visit their 200-years old acetaia, balsamic vinegar barrels cellar. Guests were introduced to the precious black gold of Modena, the traditional balsamic vinegar, obtaned from fermented cook grape juice aged inside wooden barrels made with different organic woods of the area. It is produced only from typical grapes of Modena and bottled in one only bottle designed by Giugiaro. The production is very limited and it is protected by the P.D.O. regulation.The visit was followed by a tasting of the farm produce and a delicious gourmet lunch based on local dishes and balsamic vinegar of course! This was the perfect conclusion of a 4-day incentive program between Bologna, Parma and Modena.